Time switch



TIME SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 26, 1960 Hans 7776// #fiar/gg Feb. *19, 1963 TIME SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 26, 1960 wtet 3,078,358 Q@ Patented Feb. 19, 11963 John R. Enochs, Ashiand, Mass., Herbert M. Dimond,

West Hartford, Conn., and Hans Springer, Ashland,

Mass., assignors` to General Eiectric Company, a corporation ot New York Filed llian. 26, 1964i, Ser. No. 4,75@ S. Claims. @LEM-33) This invention relates to a time switch, and more particularly to a so-called sleep switch mechanism for a timer. With such a mechanism, a manually presettable means isprovided for manually moving a switch to a closed position and for automatically maintaining the Switch in the closed position for a preselected adjustable time interval. Such a mechanism is particularly useful for automatically turning ofi a radio receiver in the evening after a person has gone to sleep, and for such use it is conventionally termed a sleep-switch. The invention is directed to such a sleep switch mechanism and the inclusion of such a mechanism in a timerv provided with a spring driven escapment and a small electric motor for winding the spring.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provideA an improved low cost reliable mechanism for manually closing a switch and automatically opening a switch after a pre-selected time interval.

t is a further object of this invention to provide an improved low.cost sleep switchwhich may be uniquely and easily combined with a` timer provided with a spring driven escapement and a small electric motor for winding the spring.

In accordance with one aspect of this invention, a time switch includes means periodically rotated by a timing mechanism .and a switch lever for openingy and closing a switch. A manually movable control shaft is provided with a cam fixed thereto for moving the switch lever. The control shaft is arranged so that it may be manually selectively positionable in any one of a plurality of adjustable positions for holding the switch lever and the switch closed, and positionable in another position for permitting the switch lever to open the switch. The means periodically rotated by the timing mechanism is operatively connected to the control shaft for periodically moving the cam from any one of the preselected rotary positions for holding the switch closed toward` the other position for permitting the switch lever to open the switch. Thus, a person may manually close the switch and set the position of theA control shaft for the time interval it is desired to maintain the switch closed, and the means periodically rotated by the timing mechanism will move the cam in increments to open the switch after the lapse of the preset time interval. With this arrangement, an improved reliable mechanism for manually closing a switch and automatically opening'the switch after a preselected time interval is provided.

Other objects and attendant advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the drawing in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a timer provided with the improved sleep switch mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a partial rear perspective view of the timer shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view `of the improved sleep switch mechanism, the view being partially broken away in order to show-details thereof;

FIG. 4 is a partial rear perspective view of the improved sleep switch mechanism showing the switch in an open position;

FIG. 5 is a partial front elevational view of a portion of the improved sleep switch mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a partial front elevational view of the portion 2, of the improved sleep switch mechanism shown in FIG. 5 in a different position of operation;

FIG. 7 is a partial bottom view of the improved sleep switch mechanism; and

FIG. 8 is a partial rear view of the front plate of the timer.

Referring now to the drawing and iirst, particularly to FIGS. l and 2; there is Shown a timer including our improved sleep switch mechanism. The timer illustrated in FlG. l includes a support o-r mounting plate 1, a rear plate 2 and a front plate 3. The hands 5, 6 and 7 of the timer are rotated by an escapement ti in` a conventional manner. A main spring 9 is provided for driving the escapement, and a small electric motor lil is provided for periodically winding the main spring 9 of the timer. This rewind is accomplished through a drive worm 11 of the motor which drives the rewind gear 1,2. The rewind gear 12 is suitably connectedy to one end of the main spring 9. ln the device illustrated, the main spring 9 is rewound about once every eight minutes, atwhich time the rewind gear 12 is driven one complete revolution. Means including a cam 13 is provided for rewinding the main spring 9 and for de-energizing motor lli) after the rewind gear 12 has made one complete revolution. The details of this control means do not form a part of this invention, and therefore, will not be fully described. However, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the improved sleep switch mechanism is uniquely driven by cam 13-and it should be appreciated that cam 13 is driven one complete revolution bythe rewind gear 12 approximately every eight minutes. With this arrangement, although there is insufficient power available from the escapement'for driving a sleep switch mechanism, the mechanism may be uniquely driven as a function. of time by the means for rewinding the main spring 9.

A switch which may be utilized-to control apparatus such as a battery operated radio receiver may be provided for actuation by the vimproved sleep mechanism. In the arrangement illustrated in` FIG. 3, current may be supplied tothe radio receiver by means of a pair of insulated wires 14 and 1S. The wire 14 is grounded at lto front plate 3, and the wire 15- is Xed to a switch contact plate 17. ln a mannerwell known in the art, the switch plate 17 is mounted on an insulating plate 18. As illustrated iii-FIG. 3, insulating plate lmay be fixed to front plate EE by means of rivets 19er other suitable securing means.

A-uniquely designed mechanismy is provided for manually completing the circuit from wire 15 to wire 14, and for opening the circuit after a preselected timeinterval. Thisy manually prescttable means includes a switch lever pivotally mounted to front. plate 3 at 21. As shown in FlG. 3, lever 2t? is generally V-shaped and is provided with an outwardly extending arm 23 for contacting switch Contact 22 to close the switchA by completing'. the circuit from contact 22 to mounting` plate 3. An arm 24V is provided for pivoting the switch lever 2@ about` metal pivot 2,1. Switch lever 2tlmay beformed from a single piece of sheet material and stamped into theformillustrated. Arm 23 is bent generally perpendicular toa base 25 of the sl-shaped lever to provide substantial line contact with switch contact 22, while arm 2d is bent generally perpendicular to the base portion 25 of the V-shaped switch lever for providing smoothv sliding `Contact with he surface ofa unique sleep cam 261 to be more particularly described hereinafter. Thus, a simple switch lever which may be easily manufactured is provided.

The means for operating the switch and switch lever 2t? includes a manually rotatable control shaft 27 provided with the unique sleep cam 26 iixed thereto. A manual setting knob 28 may be connected to shaft 27 for rotating the shaft and cam 26 to the desired position for opening the switch or presetting a time interval for maintaining the switch closed. As shown more particularly in FIG. 3, cam 26 is generally snail-shaped and is provided with a raised generally circular surface 29 and a hat straight surface 30 located closer to the axis of shaft 27 than the outer periphery of the curved circular surface 29. Thus, when the outer periphery of the circular surface 29 is in contact with the lever arm 24, the switch lever E@ is held so that the arm 23 is forced into contact with switch contact 22 to close the circuit between wires le and l; whereas, when the arm 2li is in contact with the flat portion of cam 26 the switch arm 23 is positioned away from contact 22 to open the switch.

A tension coil spring 3i is provided for biasing arm ittiinto Contact with cam 25. As shown in FlG. 3, one end of spring 31 may be rixed to an end 32 of arm 2d while the other end of the spring may be fixed to a tab T6 struck out from front plate 3. lt can be seen that knob 28 may be manually rotated in a clockwise or countercloclrwise direction to locate the curved portion 29 of the cam in an" one of a plurality of rotary positions with respect to arm 24 to hold the switch closed, or knob 23 may be rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in PEG. 3 to position arm 24 on the straight portion Sil of the cam to allow spring 3l to pivot lever counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 4 about pivot 2l to open the switch.

in accordance with the invention, means is provided for guiding shaft 27 and cam 26 for rotary movement. As shown more particularly in FIDS. 3, 4 and 8, the shaft 27 upon which cam 2o is mounted extends through a hole 34 formed in the front plate 3, and is provided with a reduced end portion 3S for extending through a small hole 36 formed in rear plate 2. As shown in FlG. 7, a sleeve bearing collar may be positioned between the rear surface of front plate 3 and the dat surface of cam 29 for guiding shaft 27 and cam 28 for rotary movement. The collar 37 also cooperates with the reduced end portion 3S of shaft 27 for restricting axial movement of the shaft between front plate 3 and rear plate 2. Stop means is provided for limiting rotation of cam 3@ in a clockwise or counterclockwise d` ection. As shown more particularly in FlGS. 7 and 8, a rearwardly bent lug 33 is integrally formed with cam 2o for cooperating with rearwardly extending tabs 39 and ftd formed on opposite sides of hole 3ft. The tabs may be inexpensively struck out from front plate 3. With this arrangement, when shaft 27 is rotated to the extreme clockwise position shown in FIG. 4, lug 3S contacts stop tab 39 to prevent further rotation of cam Zd and shaft 27 in a clockwise direction, and lug 3S cooperates 'with stop tab lo to restrict counterclockwise rotation of cam Z6 and shaft 27.

A unique arrangement is provided for automatically moving sleep cam 2o as a function of time from any one of the plurality of adjustable positions for holding the switch arm Z3 closed to the position shown in FlG. 4 for opening the switch. To achieve this, a ratchet il is i'lxed to shaft 27 for rotation therewith, and a pawl 42 is positioned between the ratchet 4l and the time cam i3 for permitting cam ll?) to move the ratchet one increment approximately every eight minutes. As illustrated more particularly in FIG. 5, pawl i2 may be formed from a single piece of sheet metal and provided with an enlarged opening 43 for receiving a spacer stud lli-E- upon which it is pivotally and slidably mounted. The pawl includes an arm 4S and an arm do arranged generally perpendicular to arm 4S for providing an operative connection between time cam 13 and ratchet 41. The top and bottom portions 47 and i3 of arm 46, are bent generally perpendicular with respect to the plane of the arm for providing smooth operative connection with the time cam 13 andthe ratchet 4l, respectively. A spring 49 is looped over a support nut 69 of the timer supporting structure with one end secured to a tab 5@ which may be formed in rear plate 2 and the other end engaging a lug 5l dit formed in arm 45 of pawl 42. rthus, the spring 49* urges pawl 42 to the lett and in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3 to bias the top surface 47 of the pawl into contact with time cam 13 and to hold the bottom surface 43 of the pawl out of Contact with the teeth of ratchet fil. With the parts in the position shown in FIG. 5, it can be appreciated that upon rotary movenient of cam i3, an outwardly extending portion 52 of the cam will contact the top surface 47 of the pawl, slide along the top surface, and push pawl ft2 downwardly against the tension of spring 49. During such movement, the lower surface d of the pawl will be placed in contact with a side surface ot one of the teeth of ratchet 41 to rotate the ratchet one increment in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5. Upon further rotary movement of cam i3, the cam will slide out of engagement with the top surface i7 of pawl i2 and permit the pawl to be lifted away from ratchet di under the influence of spring 49 to the position shown in FlG. 6. The ratchet is provided with a plurality of teeth 53 for permitting cam 26 to be rotated from any one of the positions wherein it holds .he switch closed to the switch open position shown in EEG. 4. ln order to prevent further clockwise rotation of cam 2d after the parts have been moved to the switch open position shown in PEG. 4, a portion 51% of ratchet di is cut away, and is not provided with teeth. rihus, as shown in PEG. 4, the bottom portion 48 of the pawl may move upwardly and downwardly in cut away portion 54 of the ratchet without causing movement of the ratchet.

As illustrated in FiG. l, suitable indicia such as oleep and a time scale consisting of an arc-shaped arrow extending between numeral t) and o0, 60 referring to 60 minutes may be positioned adjacent to set knob 2S. When not in use, the sleep switch knob 2S will be in the position shown in HG. 1, arm 24 of the switch lever will be on straight surface 3d of sleep cam 26, and the ratchet 4l wil-l be positioned with respect to the pawl 42 so that downward movement of the pawl will merely force the bottom surface d of the pawl into the cut-away portion :fi-i of ratchet il without rotating the ratchet and the shaft 27.

lf it is desired to manually close the switch and have the switch remain closed for a preselected time interval, knob 2li is rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in HG. to the desired time between 0 and 60. This simultaneously rotates sleep cam 2d and ratchet 4l. During such rotation, arm Z4 of switch lever 2li is lifted and is preset in a rotary adjustable position on curved surface Z9 of sleep cam 2o. The above-mentioned operation obviously moves switch blade 23 into contact with switch contact 22 to close the switch. Following this setting movement of knob 28, a particular ratchet tooth will be located in position for actuation by pawl ft2. rlhus, since the rewind gear 12 makes one complete revolution approximntely every eight minutes, every eight minutes cam i3 will move pawl d2 into engagement with succeeding teeth of ratchet il until the ratchet and sleep cam 26 are moved to the position shown in FIG. 4 and the switch is opened. During the operation of the sleep mechanism, the time may be extended or reduced or eliminated entirely by turning control knob 28 in the proper direction. Any such adjustment simply rotates ratchet 4l and slides cam 26 on the surface of arm 24 of the switch to change the time interval setting. With this ararngement a unique low cost sleep switch mechanism may be uniquely and easily combined with apparatus such as a battery operated timer provided with a spring driven escapement and a small electric motor for winding the spring.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the invention, and therefore, it is aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A time switch comprising: means periodically rotated by a timing mechanism, a switch, a switch lever for opening and closing said switch, a manually positionable control shaft, a cam mounted on to said control shaft for moving said switch lever, said control shaft and said cam being manually selectively positionable in any one of a plurality of adjustable positions for holding the switch closed and po-sitionable in another position for permitting the switch lever to open the switch, said periodically rotated means being operatively connected to said control shaft for moving said cam from any one of the preselected positions for holding the switch closed toward said other position for permitting the switch lever to open the switch.

Z. A time switch comprising: timed means for periodically winding a timer, a switch, a switch lever for opening and closing said switch, a manually positionable control shaft, a cam mounted on to said control shaft for moving said switch lever, said control shaft and said cam being manually selectively positionable in any one of a plurality of adjustable positions for holding the switch closed and positionable in another position for permitting the switch lever to open the switch, said timed means for periodically winding a timer being operatively connected to said control shaft for moving said cam from any one of the .preselected positions for holding the switch closed toward said other position for permitting the switch lever to open the switch.

3. A time switch comprising: a time cam periodically rotated by a timing mechanism, a pawl located adjacent to said time cam for actuation thereby, a switch, a switch lever for opening and closing said switch, a manually rotatable control shaft, a sleep cam mounted on to said control shaft for moving said switch lever, said control shaft and said sleep cam being manually selectively positionable in any one of a plurality of rotary adjustable positions for holding the switch closed and rotatable to another position for permitting the switch lever to open the switch, a ratchet mounted on said control shaft, said pawl being located adjacent to said ratchet for incrementally moving said ratchet and said sleep switch cam from any one of the preselected rotary positions for holding the switch closed toward said other position for permitting the switch lever to open the switch.

4. A time switch comprising: a time cam periodically rotated by a timing mechanism, a pawl located adjacent to said time cam for actuation thereby, a switch, a switch lever for opening and closing said switch, a manually rotatable control shaft, a sleep cam fixed to said control shaft in s-lidable engagement with said switch lever for moving said switch lever to open or close the switch, said control shaft and said sleep cam being manually selectively positionable in any one of a plurality of rotary adjustable positions for holding the switch closed and rotatable to another position for permitting the switch lever to open the switch, a ratchet mounted on said control shaft, said pawl being located adjacent to said ratchet for periodically moving said ratchet and said sleep switch cam from any one of the preselected rotary positions for holding the switch closed toward said other position for permitting the switch lever to open the switch.

5. A time switch comprising: a ltime cam periodically rotated by a timing mechanism, a pawl located adjacent to said time cam for actuation thereby, a switch, a switch lever for opening and closing said switch, a manually rotatable control shaft, a sleep earn fixed to said control shaft in slidable engagement with said switch lever to move said switch lever to lopen or close said switch, spring means connected to said switch lever for biasing said switch lever into contact with said sleep cam, said control shaft and said sleep cam being manually selectively positionable in any one of a plurality of rotary adjustable positions for holding the switch closed and rotatable to another position for permitting the switch lever to open the switch, a ratchet fixed to said control shaft, said pawl being located adjacent to said ratchet for moving said ratchet and said sleep switch cam from any one of the preselected rotary positions for holding the switch closed toward said other position for permitting the switch lever to open the switch.

6. A :time switch comprising: a time cam periodically rotated by a timing mechanism, a pawl located adjacent to said time cam for actuation thereby, spring means for biasing sai-d pawl into contact with said time cam, a switch, a switch lever for opening and closing said switch, a manually rotatable control shaft, a sleep cam fixed to said control shaft in -slidable engagement with said switch lever for moving said switch lever to open or close the switch, said control shaft and said sleep cam being manually selectively positionable in any one of a plurality of rotary adjustable positions for holding the switch closed and rotatable to another position for permitting the switch lever to open the switch, a ratchet fixed to said control shaft, said pawl being located adjacent to said ratchet for incrementally moving said ratchet and said sleep switch cam from any one of the preselected rotary positions for holding the switch closed toward said other position for permitting the switch lever to open the switch.

7. A time switch comprising: a time cam periodically rotated by a timing mechanism, a supporting stud, a pawl loosely pivoted on said stud, said pawl being located adjacent to said time cam for actuation thereby, a switch, a switch lever for opening and closing said switch, a manually rotatable control shaft, a sleep cam fixed to said control shaft in slidable engagement with said switch lever for moving said switch lever to open or close the switch, said control shaft and said sleepcam being manually selectively positionable in any one vof a plurality of rotary adjustable positions for holding :the switch closed and rotatable to another position for permitting the switch lever to open the switch, a ratchet fixed to said control shaft, said pawl being located adjacent to said ratchet for incrementally moving said ratchet and said sleep switch from any one of the preselected notary positions for holding the -switch closed toward said other position for permitting the switch lever to open the switch,

8. A time switch comprising: a time cam periodically rotated by a timing mechanism, a pawl located adjacent to said time cam for actuation thereby, a switch, a switch lever for opening and closing said switch, a manually rotatable control shaft, a sleep cam fixed to said control shaft for moving said switch lever, a curved surface formed on said sleep cam for holding said switch lever in aclosed position, a flat surface formed on said sleep cam for cooperating with said switch lever to permit the switch lever to be moved to an open position, a ratchet fixed to said control shaft, said pawl being located adjacent to said ratchet for incrementally moving said ratchet and said sleep switch cam from any position wherein the curved surface of said cam holds the switch closed toward the position wherein the switch lever is located on said at surface to open the switch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,555,508 Pudelko June 5, 1951 2,579,260 Horgan Dec. 18, 1951 2,938,970 Constantine May 31, 1960 2,941,051 Laviana June 14, 1960 2,946,902 Hagan July 26, 1960 2,964,933 Fritz Dec. 20, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 620,813 Great Britain Mar. 30, 1949 

1. A TIME SWITCH COMPRISING: MEANS PERIODICALLY ROTATED BY A TIMING MECHANISM, A SWITCH, A SWITCH LEVER FOR OPENING AND CLOSING SAID SWITCH, A MANUALLY POSITIONABLE CONTROL SHAFT, A CAM MOUNTED ON TO SAID CONTROL SHAFT FOR MOVING SAID SWITCH LEVER, SAID CONTROL SHAFT AND SAID CAM BEING MANUALLY SELECTIVELY POSITIONABLE IN ANY ONE OF A PLURALITY OF ADJUSTABLE POSITIONS FOR HOLDING THE SWITCH CLOSED AND POSITIONABLE IN ANOTHER POSITION FOR PERMITTING THE SWITCH LEVER TO OPEN THE SWITCH, SAID PERIODICALLY ROTATED MEANS BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID CONTROL SHAFT FOR MOVING SAID CAM FROM ANY ONE OF THE PRESELECTED POSITIONS FOR HOLDING THE SWITCH CLOSED TOWARD SAID OTHER POSITION FOR PERMITTING THE SWITCH LEVER TO OPEN THE SWITCH. 